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Building (Transit) People’s Political Power. Americans for Transit CFTE June 2013. Who we are. Americans for Transit’s mission is to strengthen, create, and unite grassroots transit rider organizations across the country.
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Building (Transit) People’s Political Power Americans for Transit CFTE June 2013
Who we are • Americans for Transit’s mission is to strengthen, create, and unite grassroots transit rider organizations across the country. • Founded in May of 2012 year by the Amalgamated Transit Union & Good Jobs First. • Conduct national capacity building trainings, develop & distribute training materials, provide on the ground support in targeted areas, and build a national coalition of grassroots transit rider organizations.
As Transit Advocates, Organizers, & Proponents we ALL have problems…
#Transitprobs 2009 Cuts! NOW?
One SOLUTION TO ALL Of These problems??? • Overcrowding • Fare increases/Service cuts • Route abandonments/layoffs/people can’t get to work • Lack of public support • Lack of POLITICAL SUPPORT?
Not to mention today’s news… Voting Rights Act Axed!! Which will directly hurt many transit users political voice…
What Do all of these photos have in common? Building (Transit) People’s POLITICAL POWER. Why?
We Know WHY we need political power So the last question is… HOW?
1- Organize Transit Riders (& Supporters http://americansfortransit.org/transit-organizing-directory/
3- Galvanize Transit supportive businesses Many people in the room TODAY & http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/bossesforbuses &
We HAVE to make these folks… Feel that they CAN NOT say NO to greater investment in Public Transit for the people who rely on it and use it every single day!
Because if they don’t (care about and invest in public transit & its riders…) This will happen to them…
Stay in Touch! • Like us on Facebook at /Americansfortransit • Follow us at Twitter @A4Transit • website www.americansfortransit.org • Email me with additional questions or news you’d like to share with national pro-transit audience. • Andrew@Americansfortransit.org